This is important because each 1% increase in a soil’s organic matter can help hold 20,000 gallons more water per acre ( source). For this reason, composting and mulching your apple trees are essential.Ĭomposting not only helps the soil receive valuable nutrients but also improves the richness of the soil. Typically, this happens in hotter weather. You can tell if your apple tree is under-watered if the soil is bone dry. The common symptoms of under-watering apple trees include: Most commonly, the apple tree’s leaves will begin curling, but brown leaves can occur if the drought stress is bad enough.

Under-watering apple trees is easy to do, and it can result in several symptoms. Under-WateringĬompared to over-watering, a lack of water dries out the apple tree’s leaves-which curl to conserve moisture, and if not watered soon, will turn brown and die. Under-watering (drought-stress) is a far more likely cause of brown leaves on apple trees. While over-watering apple trees can lead to brown leaves, it’s more likely to lead to green leaves being shed. Over time, these materials will work their way into the soil and promote aeration. If the hole drains slower than 2 inches per hour, it has poor drainage.Ĭompost, sand, and perlite are some good amendments to use. You can test your soil’s drainage by digging a 1-foot by 1-foot hole near the apple tree and filling it with water. If you check your apple tree’s soil 2 or more hours after watering it, and it’s still sopping wet, it likely has poor drainage and is getting over-watered. The compost will help hold the moisture and the mulch prevents evaporation. By using compost and mulch, you can water apple trees every 1-2 weeks. To prevent over-watering apple trees, use loamy, well-draining soil and only water when the top 2-4 inches of soil gets dry. The most common reasons why apple trees get over-watered are: This can lead apple trees to hold water for days at a time, leading to other issues, such as root rot (a fungal disease that typically requires repotting the tree). Over-watering can be caused by many factors but is the most common in clay soils or those with poor drainage.Ĭlay soils have tightly packed particles, preventing the soil from draining well. Symptoms of over-watering an apple tree include: To prevent leaves from turning brown, only water the tree when the first 2-4 inches of soil gets dry and use mulch and compost.

Compared to other causes, watering is also the easiest to test. Over and under-watering apple trees are common reasons why they get brown leaves. If your apple tree has brown leaves, watering should be the first thing you check. So, while there are several reasons why apple tree leaves turn brown, how can you tell what’s causing it, and how can it be fixed? Over or Under-Watering If they’re scorched looking, it’s likely fire blight. If they’re just curled, the tree needs water. The easiest way to tell what’s causing the brown leaves is to check if they’re curled or look scorched. Here’s what I found.Īpple tree leaves turn brown from improper watering, climate, or a disease called fire blight. So, I wanted to dig a little deeper and find out the most likely reasons why apple tree leaves turn brown. Some sources say one thing, while others say another.

It’s fairly common for apple tree leaves to turn brown, but it can have many possible causes.

John downie apple